The
following is a letter published in the Mar/Apr 1975
issue of the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands’ local
newsletter, The Althing. It was written in response to
the Barony’s request to form a principality. I thought
it would be of interest to us.

To the People of the Barony March of the Debatable Lands
Greetings

At Our recent Curia we were asked to give in writing Our
opinions on the subject of Principality status for your
Barony. They are as follows.
To the best of Our knowledge, you do not currently meet
the population requirements for a principality, but We
have no doubt that you soon will; That is not a serious
difficulty. There are, however, baronies in both the
East and Middle Kingdoms which have for years fulfilled
that requirement, yet neither they nor the Crown have
seen any good reason to convert them into
principalities. Indeed there exist no principalities in
either kingdom. Existing principalities in Atenveldt and
the West are either groups of baronies intending to
become kingdoms (Caid and An Tir) or the central areas
of their respective kingdoms (Principality of Atenveldt,
Principality of the Mists).

The primary argument We have heard for Principality
status is that the Barony March runs its own affairs and
neither is not intends to be directed from the center of
the kingdom. That is true. It is true of all Our
baronies. One of the distinctive features of the East
Kingdom, to which We think its prosperity in large part
due, is a feudal rather than a centralist structure.
Kingdom officers maintain common standards in a few
essential areas, such as safety rules and heraldry
(which standards, in all kingdoms, apply as much to
principality as barony) and otherwise provide
communication among the baronies. It has been so in the
past, We expect it to continue so. If you wish further
guarantees, you might choose to follow the example of
Our barony of Carolingia, which has but recently
negotiated with the Crown a charter, in which are stated
the ancient rights of that barony.

In sum, we see no reason why the Barony Marche, as it
now exists, should be a principality.

One thing more. There are at present individuals and
groups scattered through (at least) western New York and
West Virginia. If some develop, perhaps with your
assistance, into substantial groups, and if they wish to
unite with you into a principality comprising the
western part of Our kingdom, either as a permanent
arrangement or with the intent of becoming in time a
separate kingdom, that would be entirely appropriate.

We have read the above to Our Tannist, who states that
he is in essential agreement with it.